U.S. patent application number 13/523345 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-12 for disease diagnosis apparatus and disease diagnosis method thereof, and disease diagnosis system and disease diagnosis method thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Chosun University. The applicant listed for this patent is Jae-Hyo JUNG, Youn-Tae KIM, Ji-Hwan LEE. Invention is credited to Jae-Hyo JUNG, Youn-Tae KIM, Ji-Hwan LEE.
Application Number | 20130331671 13/523345 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49715843 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130331671 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Youn-Tae ; et
al. |
December 12, 2013 |
DISEASE DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND DISEASE DIAGNOSIS METHOD THEREOF,
AND DISEASE DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM AND DISEASE DIAGNOSIS METHOD
THEREOF
Abstract
A disease diagnosis apparatus and a disease diagnosis method
thereof, and a disease diagnosis system and a disease diagnosis
method thereof are provided. The disease diagnosis apparatus
includes a patch including one or more diagnosis modules collecting
blood and measuring concentrations of one or more cardinal markers
included in the collected blood, and a processor wirelessly
transmitting measurement results to a server.
Inventors: |
KIM; Youn-Tae; (Yuseong-gu,
KR) ; LEE; Ji-Hwan; (Wando-gun, KR) ; JUNG;
Jae-Hyo; (Buk-gu, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KIM; Youn-Tae
LEE; Ji-Hwan
JUNG; Jae-Hyo |
Yuseong-gu
Wando-gun
Buk-gu |
|
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Industry-Academic Cooperation
Foundation, Chosun University
Gwangju
KR
|
Family ID: |
49715843 |
Appl. No.: |
13/523345 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/345 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/1477
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/345 |
International
Class: |
A61B 5/1477 20060101
A61B005/1477 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 11, 2012 |
KR |
10-2012-0062154 |
Claims
1. A disease diagnosis apparatus comprising: a patch including one
or more diagnosis modules collecting blood and measuring
concentrations of one or more cardinal markers included in the
blood; and a processor wirelessly transmitting measurement results
to a server.
2. The disease diagnosis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
diagnosis module comprises: a blood reception unit collecting blood
based on pressure applied to the diagnosis module by using a
micro-needle; and a sensor unit sensing an amount of current
generated through an oxidation-reduction reaction between an
antibody to which respective cardinal markers are attached and an
antigen included in the collected blood by using a
three-dimensional (3D) electrochemical sensor, and measuring a
concentration of each of one or more cardinal markers included in
the collected blood based on the sensed amount of currents.
3. The disease diagnosis apparatus of claim 2, wherein the blood
reception unit provides the collected blood to the sensor unit by
using a micro-fluidic chip, and the sensor unit removes impurities
included in the blood provided from the blood reception unit by
using a multilayer thin film.
4. The disease diagnosis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patch is
detachable, and when the patch includes a plurality of diagnosis
modules, diagnoses are repeatedly performed a plurality of times by
attaching a single patch.
5. The disease diagnosis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cardinal
markers include at least one of myoglobin, creatine
kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), troponin T, and troponin I.
6. A disease diagnosis method of a disease diagnosis apparatus, the
method comprising: collecting blood by using one or more diagnosis
modules of a patch and measuring concentrations of one or more
cardinal markers included in the collected blood; and wirelessly
transmitting measurement results to a server.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the collecting of blood and
measuring a concentration comprises: collecting blood based on
pressure applied to the diagnosis module by using a micro-needle;
and sensing an amount of current generated through an
oxidation-reduction reaction between an antibody to which
respective cardinal markers are attached and an antigen included in
the collected blood by using a three-dimensional (3D)
electrochemical sensor, and measuring a concentration of each of
one or more cardinal markers included in the collected blood based
on the sensed amount of currents.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: removing impurities
included in the collected blood by using a multilayer thin film,
before measuring the concentration thereof.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the patch is detachable, and when
the patch includes a plurality of diagnosis modules, diagnosing is
repeatedly performed a plurality of times by attaching a single
patch.
10. The method of claim 6, wherein the cardinal markers include at
least one of myoglobin, creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB),
troponin T, and troponin I.
11. A disease diagnosis system comprising: a disease diagnosis
apparatus including a patch including one or more diagnosis modules
collecting blood and measuring concentrations of one or more
cardinal markers included in the collected blood, and a processor
wirelessly transmitting measurement results to a server by way of a
portable terminal; and a server transmitting diagnosis result data
determined based on the measurement results to the disease
diagnosis apparatus by way of the portable terminal.
12. A disease diagnosis method of a disease diagnosis system, the
method comprising: collecting, by a disease diagnosis apparatus,
blood by using one or more diagnosis modules of a patch, measuring
concentrations of one or more cardinal markers included in the
collected blood, and wirelessly transmitting measurement results to
a server by way of a portable terminal; and transmitting, by the
server, diagnosis result data determined based on the measurement
results to the disease diagnosis apparatus by way of the portable
terminal.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2012-0062154 filed on Jun. 11, 2012, in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a disease diagnosis
apparatus and a disease diagnosis method thereof, and a disease
diagnosis system and a disease diagnosis method thereof.
[0004] The present invention is derived from research conducted as
part of the National Research Foundation of the Korean-Public
Welfare & Security R&D Program supported by the Ministry of
Education, Science and Technology [Project Management No.:
2011-0021118, Project Title: Development of Technology of Signal
Measurement/Processing Module and Systematization for Body-Mounted
Diagnosis System].
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] As the point-of-care testing (POCT) market has rapidly
expanded, various disease diagnosis apparatuses for diagnosing
diseases in homes have been developed. In general, a disease
diagnosis apparatus used for diagnosing diseases in homes is very
costly and may be very inconvenient in terms of diagnosing a
disease in daily life.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In the related art, a disease diagnosis apparatus, a disease
diagnosis method thereof, a disease diagnosis system, and a disease
diagnosis method thereof are required.
[0008] A first aspect of the present invention provides a disease
diagnosis apparatus. The disease diagnosis apparatus includes: a
patch including one or more diagnosis modules collecting blood and
measuring concentrations of one or more cardinal markers included
in the collected blood; and a processor wirelessly transmitting
measurement results to a server.
[0009] A second aspect of the present invention provides a disease
diagnosis method of a disease diagnosis apparatus. The disease
diagnosis method of a disease diagnosis apparatus includes:
collecting blood by using one or more diagnosis modules of a patch
and measuring concentrations of one or more cardinal markers
included in the collected blood; and wirelessly transmitting
measurement results to a server.
[0010] A third aspect of the present invention provides a disease
diagnosis system. The disease diagnosis system includes: a disease
diagnosis apparatus including a patch including one or more
diagnosis modules collecting blood and measuring concentrations of
one or more cardinal markers included in the collected blood, and a
processor wirelessly transmitting measurement results to a server
by way of a portable terminal; and a server transmitting diagnosis
result data determined based on the measurement results to the
disease diagnosis apparatus by way of the portable terminal.
[0011] A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a disease
diagnosis method of a disease diagnosis system. The disease
diagnosis method of a disease diagnosis system includes:
collecting, by a disease diagnosis apparatus, blood by using one or
more diagnosis modules of a patch, measuring concentrations of one
or more cardinal markers included in the collected blood, and
wirelessly transmitting measurement results to a server by way of a
portable terminal; and transmitting, by the server, diagnosis
result data determined based on the measurement results to the
disease diagnosis apparatus by way of the portable terminal.
[0012] The foregoing technical solutions do not fully enumerate all
of the features of the present invention. The foregoing and other
objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The above and other aspects, features and other advantages
of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a disease
diagnosis system and a configuration of a disease diagnosis
apparatus constituting the disease diagnosis system according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
patch included in a disease diagnosis apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a
diagnosis module included in a patch according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a diagnosis module of a
patch according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a process of an
operating method for diagnosing a disease in a server included in
the disease diagnosis system according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a process of an
operating method for diagnosing a disease in the disease diagnosis
apparatus of the disease diagnosis system according to an
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0020] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a process of an
operating method for diagnosing a disease in a portable terminal of
the disease diagnosis system according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described
in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The
invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and
should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set
forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the
scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In describing
the present invention, if a detailed explanation for a related
known function or construction is considered to unnecessarily
divert from the gist of the present invention, such an explanation
will be omitted but would be understood by those skilled in the
art. In the drawings, the shapes and dimensions of elements may be
exaggerated for clarity, and the same reference numerals will be
used throughout to designate the same or like components.
[0022] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as
being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected
to the other element or intervening elements may also be present.
In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly
connected to" another element, no intervening elements are present.
In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word
"comprise" and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising," will
be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the
exclusion of any other elements.
[0023] Hereinafter, a disease diagnosis apparatus, a disease
diagnosis method thereof, a disease diagnosis system, and a disease
diagnosis method thereof will be described. In particular, a
disease diagnosis apparatus attached to a human body to collect
blood, generate clinical data required for diagnosing Ischemic
heart disease based on the collected blood, and wirelessly transmit
the generated clinical data to a medical attendant (or a regular
physician), and an operating method of the disease diagnosis
apparatus will be described. Through this, a general patient
without specialized knowledge can quickly and easily treat his or
her disease anywhere.
[0024] In the following description, Ischemic heart disease will be
taken as an example of a disease able to be diagnosed by using the
disease diagnosis apparatus, but the present invention may be
applicable to any disease that can be diagnosed by using blood.
[0025] Also, a portable terminal described hereinafter refers to a
terminal able to wirelessly communicate with the disease diagnosis
apparatus. The portable terminal may include, for example, a
cellular phone, a personal communication system (PCS), a personal
data assistant (PDA), an international mobile
telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) terminal, a smart phone, a
notebook computer, a tablet personal computer (tablet PC), or the
like.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a disease
diagnosis system and a configuration of a disease diagnosis
apparatus constituting the disease diagnosis system according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] With reference to FIG. 1, the disease diagnosis system
includes a disease diagnosis apparatus 100, a portable terminal
130, and a server 140.
[0028] The disease diagnosis apparatus 100 is attached to a human
body (or a user) to automatically collect blood based on pressure
applied to a diagnosis module by a user's finger, analyze collected
blood, and transmit analysis information to a medical attendant (or
the user's regular physician) by way of the portable terminal 130
and the server 140. Thus, when the medical attendant diagnoses a
disease, the disease diagnosis apparatus 100 receives information
regarding the diagnosis results from the medical attendant by way
of the server 140 and the portable terminal 130 and displays the
same on a screen.
[0029] The portable terminal 130 transmits and receives data
between the disease diagnosis apparatus 100 and the server 140.
[0030] The server 140 transmits the analysis information received
from the disease diagnosis apparatus 100 by way of the portable
terminal 130 to client software of the medical attendant, and
information regarding the diagnosis results received from the
client software to the disease diagnosis apparatus 100 by way of
the portable terminal 130. Here, the medical attendant may diagnose
an occurrence of Ischemic heart disease based on the information
received through the client software, and provide information
regarding the diagnosis results to the disease diagnosis apparatus
100 through the client software by way of the server 140 and the
portable terminal 130.
[0031] Here, the disease diagnosis apparatus 100 may have a size
of, for example, 110 mm.times.60 mm.times.10 mm and may be attached
to a human body (e.g., the arm) by using a band, or the like. The
disease diagnosis apparatus 100 may include a main body 110
including a patch 112, and a sub-body 120 including a display unit
(not shown) and a plurality of (e.g., three) keys (not shown).
Here, the sub-body 120 is hinge-connected to the main body 110 such
that it can be opened and closed.
[0032] The patch 112 provided on the main body 110 collects blood
and generates clinical data required for diagnosing Ischemic heart
disease based on the collected blood, and to this end, the patch
112 includes one or more (e.g., nine (9)) diagnosis modules 114.
The one or more diagnosis modules 114 collect blood and measure a
concentration of one or more cardinal markers in the collected
blood. Measurement results obtained therefrom are wirelessly
transmitted by an internal processor 122 as clinical data required
for diagnosing Ischemic heart disease to the medical attendant in
real time. Here, the cardinal markers include at least one of
myoglobin, creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), troponin T, and
troponin I generated in blood when the symptoms of Ischemic heart
disease appear.
[0033] The display unit (not shown) provided in the sub-body 120
displays information regarding the diagnosis results on a screen
under the control of the internal processor 122, and the plurality
of keys (not shown) provide key input data corresponding to a key
pressed by the user to the internal processor 122. Accordingly, the
internal processor 122 may change the format of the information
displayed on the display unit (not shown) based on the key input
data provided from the plurality of keys (not shown). For example,
the plurality of keys (not shown) may include a first key for
displaying information in the form of a graph on the display unit
(not shown) and a second key for displaying information in the form
of text on the display unit (not shown). The plurality of keys may
further include a third key for calling the medical attendant.
[0034] The interior of the sub-body 120 is comprised of the
processor 122 and a radio frequency (RF) module 124. The processor
122, which may be implemented as an advanced RISC machines (ARM)
processor, processes an unprocessed signal provided from the patch
112 and wirelessly transmits the processed signal to the portable
terminal 130 through the RF module 124 in real time. If the disease
diagnosis apparatus 100 and the portable terminal 130 are available
for short-range communication (e.g., Bluetooth.TM.), signals may be
transmitted and received between the disease diagnosis apparatus
100 and the portable terminal 130 through short-range
communication. Here, the signal (i.e., clinical data) transmitted
to the portable terminal 130 may be transmitted to the server 140,
and accordingly, the medical attendant may diagnose Ischemic heart
disease based on the clinical data from the disease diagnosis
apparatus 100 and provide information regarding the diagnosis
results to the disease diagnosis apparatus 100 by way of the server
140 and the portable terminal 130. When the information regarding
the diagnosis results has been received, the processor 122 may
output the information regarding the diagnosis results on the
display unit (not shown).
[0035] Here, the processor 122 may be comprised of an analog
circuit and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) processing the
unprocessed signal provided from the patch 112. The analog circuit
may be comprised of an amplifying unit amplifying a pA
micro-current signal provided from the patch 112 and a filter
filtering the amplified signal to protect the signal against noise.
The ADC converts the filtered analog signal into a digital signal.
The converted digital signal may be transmitted to the server 140
by way of the portable terminal 130 through the RF module 124.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
patch of a disease diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0037] With reference to FIG. 2, a patch 200 included in a disease
diagnosis apparatus is detachable and comprised of one or more
diagnosis modules 202. When the patch 200 includes a plurality of
diagnosis modules 202, a plurality of diagnoses may be repeatedly
performed by attaching a single patch. For example, when the patch
200 includes nine diagnosis modules 202, diagnosis may be performed
a maximum of nine times with the single patch.
[0038] Respective diagnosis modules 202 collect blood by using a
micro-needle based on pressure applied thereto. Thereafter,
respective diagnosis modules 202 detect levels of current generated
through oxidation-reduction reactions between antibodies to which
respective cardinal markers are attached and an antigen in the
collected blood by using a 3D electrochemical sensor, and measures
concentrations (i.e., current values) of the one or more cardinal
markers in the collected blood, based on the detected levels of
current. Thereafter, respective diagnosis modules 202 transmit the
measurement results to the internal processor. Here, the one or
more diagnosis modules 202 transmit the measurement results to the
internal processor through individual electric wires. This is to
prevent a current otherwise remaining after being generated in the
already used diagnosis module from interfering with a current
generated in the diagnosis module 202 when pressure is applied
thereto. Here, when the oxidation-reduction reactions are
completed, the diagnosis module 202 may transmit remaining blood to
a waste chamber 206.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
diagnosis module of a patch according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0040] With reference to FIG. 3, each of diagnosis modules included
in a patch may have a size smaller than 15 mm and a sufficient
pressure can be applied thereto by using the index finger of an
adult man, and may be comprised of a blood reception unit and a
sensor unit.
[0041] The blood reception unit may be comprised of a micro-needle
300 collecting blood based on pressure applied to the corresponding
diagnosis module and a micro-fluidic chip 302 providing the
collected blood to the sensor unit. Here, the micro-needle 300 is
disposed in a 3.times.3 array and minimally penetrates skin to
collect a minimal amount (e.g., 10 .mu.l) of blood required for
diagnosing a disease. Also, the micro-needle 300 made of a metal
may cause skin to be infected with bacteria, so in order to prevent
this, the micro-needle 300 is coated with a parylene polymer. The
micro-fluidic chip 302 carries blood without the application of
power thereto.
[0042] The sensor unit may be comprised of a flow-through hole
(FTH) multilayer thin film 304 and a three-dimensional (3D)
electrochemical sensor 306. The FTH multilayer thin film 304 may
remove impurities from blood provided from the blood reception unit
and provide a substrate allowing an antigen-antibody reaction to be
triggered in the 3D electrochemical sensor 306. The 3D
electrochemical sensor 306 detects levels of currents generated
through oxidation-reduction reactions between antibodies to the
respective cardinal markers are attached and the antigen in the
collected blood, measure concentrations of one or more cardinal
markers in the collected blood based on the detected levels of
currents, and transmit the measurement results to the internal
processor through the electric wire 312. Here, the 3D
electrochemical sensor 306, which includes an electrode array
having a 3D structure, detects an amount of current generated
through an oxidation-reduction reaction between a specific antibody
fixed to the electrodes and antigen in the blood by combining an
antibody immobilization technique with a specific antibody
technique. The antibody immobilization technique refers to a
technique of fixing an antibody to an electrode, and the specific
antibody technique refers to a technique of allowing an antibody to
have a specific reaction to only a particular antigen. For example,
in order to measure concentrations of four cardinal markers, a
specific antibody corresponding to respective cardinal markers may
be fixed to a predetermined position of an electrode. Also, when
the oxidation-reduction reaction is completed, the 3D
electrochemical sensor 306 may transmit remaining blood to the
waste chamber 308.
[0043] Also, respective diagnosis modules of the patch may further
include a support 310 supporting the diagnosis module so as to be
maintained in parallel with the skin, such that the micro-needle
300 of the diagnosis module accurately minimally penetrates the
skin.
[0044] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a diagnosis module of a
patch according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] With reference to FIG. 4, a micro-needle 400, a
micro-fluidic chip 402, an FTH multilayer thin film 404, a 3D
electrochemical sensor 406, a waster chamber 408, and a support 410
are equivalent to the micro-needle 300, the micro-fluidic chip 302,
the FTH multilayer thin film 304, the 3D electrochemical sensor
306, the waster chamber 308, and the support 310, respectively, so
a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0046] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a process of an
operating method for diagnosing a disease in a server of the
disease diagnosis system according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0047] With reference to FIG. 5, the server inspects a state of
communication with a disease diagnosis apparatus by way of a
portable terminal in step 501. For example, the server may check a
state of communication by transmitting a request message to the
disease diagnosis apparatus by way of the portable terminal and
determining whether or not a response message is successfully
received from the disease diagnosis apparatus by way of the
portable terminal, and accordingly, the server may determine
whether or not there is an error in a state of communication with
the disease diagnosis apparatus.
[0048] Thereafter, the server determines whether or not there is an
error in a state of communication with the disease diagnosis
apparatus based on the determined state of communication in step
503.
[0049] When the server detects an error in the state of
communication with the disease diagnosis apparatus in step 503, the
server transmits an error generation notification message to the
portable terminal in step 505, and the process is returned to step
501 and the server repeatedly performs the following steps. Here,
the portable terminal may display the error generation notification
message on a screen thereof to inform the user that the disease
diagnosis apparatus requires repairs or needs to be exchanged.
[0050] Meanwhile, if there is no error in the state of
communication with the disease diagnosis apparatus in step 503, the
server recognizes the number of available diagnosis modules of the
patch based on a value counted by the disease diagnosis apparatus
in step 507, and determines whether or not there are available
diagnosis modules in the patch in step 509.
[0051] When the server determines that there is no available
diagnosis module in the patch in step 509, the server transmits a
patch replacement notification message to the portable terminal in
step 511, and proceeds to step 513. Here, the portable terminal may
display the patch replacement notification message on the screen to
inform the user that the patch of the disease diagnosis apparatus
is required to be changed.
[0052] Meanwhile, when there is an available diagnosis module (or
modules) in the patch in step 509, the server may immediately
perform step 513 to determine whether or not a diagnosis start
message has been received from the disease diagnosis apparatus by
way of the portable terminal.
[0053] When it is determined that a diagnosis start message has
been received from the disease diagnosis apparatus in step 513, the
server determines whether clinical data has been received from the
disease diagnosis apparatus by way of the portable terminal in step
515.
[0054] When it is determined that clinical data has been received
in step 515, the server provides the received clinical data to
client software of a medical attendant in step 517.
[0055] Thereafter, the server determines whether diagnosis result
data determined based on the clinical data has been received from
the client software of the medical attendant in step 519.
[0056] When it is determined that diagnosis result data has been
received in step 519, the server transmits the received diagnosis
result data to the disease diagnosis apparatus by way of the
portable terminal in step 521.
[0057] Thereafter, the server receives a count value with respect
to the number of diagnosis modules used from the disease diagnosis
apparatus by way of the portable terminal, and stores the received
count value in step 523. The stored count value is used to
recognize the number of available diagnosis modules in the patch in
step 507.
[0058] Meanwhile, although not shown, the server determines whether
or not GPS coordinate information of the disease diagnosis
apparatus is required, based on the received diagnosis result data.
When it is determined that GPS coordinate information is required,
the server may transmit a GPS coordinate information request
message to the disease diagnosis apparatus by way of the portable
terminal. For example, when there is something wrong with a
patient's condition according to the diagnosis results, the server
may determine that GPS coordinate information of the disease
diagnosis apparatus is required for follow-up measures such as
emergency transportation to a hospital, or the like. Thereafter,
when GPS coordinate information has been received from the disease
diagnosis apparatus by way of the portable terminal, the server may
utilize the received GPS coordinate information in taking the
follow-up measures.
[0059] Also, although not shown, when it is determined that a
diagnosis start message is not received in step 513, the server may
determine whether or not a predetermined period of time (e.g.,
three hours), starting from a point in time at which a diagnosis
start message was finally received, has elapsed. When the
predetermined period of time (e.g., three hours), starting from a
point in time at which a diagnosis start message was finally
received, has elapsed, the process is returned to step 501 and the
server may repeatedly perform the foregoing steps, namely, starting
from step 501, and the subsequent steps.
[0060] Thereafter, the server terminates the algorithm according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0061] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a process of an
operating method for diagnosing a disease in the disease diagnosis
apparatus of the disease diagnosis system according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0062] With reference to FIG. 6, the disease diagnosis apparatus
determines whether or not pressure applied to a diagnosis module is
sensed in step 601.
[0063] When pressure applied to a diagnosis module is sensed in
step 601, the disease diagnosis apparatus transmits a diagnosis
start message to a server by way of the portable terminal in step
603.
[0064] Next, the disease diagnosis apparatus collects blood based
on the pressure applied to the diagnosis module by using a
micro-needle in step 605.
[0065] Then, the disease diagnosis apparatus removes impurities
from the collected blood by using a multilayer thin film in step
607.
[0066] Thereafter, the disease diagnosis apparatus detects levels
of currents generated through oxidation-reduction reactions between
antibodies to which respective cardinal markers are attached and
the antigen in the impurity-free blood by using a 3D
electrochemical sensor in step 609. For example, with respect to
four cardinal markers, i.e., myoglobin, creatine kinase-myocardial
band (CK-MB), troponin T, and troponin I, the levels of currents
generated through oxidation-reduction reactions between antibodies
to which the respective cardinal markers are attached and the
antigen in the impurity-free blood may be detected.
[0067] Thereafter, the disease diagnosis apparatus measures
concentrations (current values) of the one or more cardinal markers
in the impurity-free blood based on the detected levels of currents
in step 611.
[0068] Thereafter, the disease diagnosis apparatus transmits
clinical data including the measurements results to the server by
way of the portable terminal in step 613.
[0069] Thereafter, the disease diagnosis apparatus determines
whether or not diagnosis result data determined based on the
clinical data has been received from the server by way of the
portable terminal in step 615.
[0070] When it is determined that diagnosis result data has been
received in step 615, the disease diagnosis apparatus displays the
received diagnosis result data on a display unit in step 617.
[0071] Thereafter, the disease diagnosis apparatus updates a count
value with respect to the number of diagnosis modules used in step
619, and transmits the updated count value to the server by way of
the portable terminal. For example, when a corresponding diagnosis
module is used according to pressure applied to the diagnosis
module, the disease diagnosis apparatus may update the count value
with respect to the number of used diagnosis module by increasing
1. Here, the count value may be increased by the number of
diagnosis modules of the patch.
[0072] Thereafter, the disease diagnosis apparatus terminates the
algorithm according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0073] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a process of an
operating method for diagnosing a disease in a portable terminal of
the disease diagnosis system according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0074] With reference to FIG. 7, the portable terminal determines
whether or not a diagnosis start message has been received from the
disease diagnosis apparatus in step 701.
[0075] When it is determined that a diagnosis start message has
been received in step 701, the portable terminal transmits the
received diagnosis start message to the server in step 703.
[0076] Thereafter, the portable terminal determines whether or not
clinical data including measurement results has been received from
the disease diagnosis apparatus in step 705.
[0077] When it is determined that clinical data has been received
in step 705, the portable terminal displays the received clinical
data on the display unit in step 707.
[0078] Thereafter, the portable terminal determines whether or not
the measurement results included in the received clinical data are
greater than a reference value in step 709.
[0079] When the measurement results included in the received
clinical data are not greater than a reference value in step 709,
the portable terminal determines that the received clinical data
has a low level of reliability, and displays a re-measurement
request message on the display unit and deletes the received
clinical data in step 711, and returns to step 701 to repeatedly
perform the foregoing steps, namely, starting from step 701, and
the subsequent steps. Here, the portable terminal may inform the
user that re-measurement using the disease diagnosis apparatus is
required by displaying the re-measurement request message.
[0080] Meanwhile, when the measurement results included in the
received clinical data are determined to be greater than the
reference value in step 709, the portable terminal determines that
the received clinical data has a high level of reliability,
transmits the clinical data to the server in step 713, and proceeds
to step 715.
[0081] The portable terminal determines whether or not diagnosis
result data determined based on the clinical data has been received
from the server in step 715.
[0082] When it is determined that diagnosis result data has been
received in step 715, the portable terminal displays the received
diagnosis result data on the display unit in step 717 and transmits
the received diagnosis result data to the disease diagnosis
apparatus in step 719.
[0083] Thereafter, the portable terminal determines whether or not
a count value with respect to the number of diagnosis modules used
has been received from the disease diagnosis apparatus in step
721.
[0084] When it is determined that a count value with respect to the
number of diagnosis modules used has been received in step 721, the
portable terminal transmits the received count value to the server
in step 723.
[0085] Alternatively, in the place of steps 709, 711, and 713, when
the measurement results included in the clinical data include
concentrations (current values) measured for each of a plurality of
(e.g., four) cardinal markers, the portable terminal may compare
the measurement results of respective cardinal markers with a
reference value, and then, when the number of cardinal markers
having the measurement results greater than the reference value is
greater than a majority (i.e., two), the portable terminal
transmits the clinical data to the server. Meanwhile, when the
number of cardinal markers having the measurement results greater
than the reference value is less than the majority, the portable
terminal may display a re-measurement request message on the
display unit and delete the clinical data.
[0086] Thereafter, the portable terminal terminates the algorithm
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0087] The present invention relates to a disease diagnosis
apparatus allowing a general patient without specialist knowledge
to easily generate clinical data required for diagnosing Ischemic
heart disease at any time and in any place and transfer the same to
his doctor in real time, whereby the patient can easily be
diagnosed with a disease in his or her daily life, without regard
to time and place and can be quickly treated. Also, through an
embodiment of the present invention, Ischemic heart disease may be
diagnosed in a general person or people, and can thus be prevented
at an early stage, and medical expenses can be saved.
[0088] As set forth above, according to embodiments of the
invention, a disease diagnosis apparatus and a disease diagnosis
method thereof, and a disease diagnosis system and a disease
diagnosis method thereof can be provided.
[0089] While the present invention has been shown and described in
connection with the embodiments, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined by the appended claims.
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